A fresh start + Killtopia #5 + more
It's my first Substack newsletter (woop!) and your chance to have a say!
Happy Friday everyone!
Hello and welcome to my very first free Substack newsletter. I want to use this first update to start over fresh after migrating over from Mailchimp, so it’ll be a short and simple one that sets up what’s in store in future updates.
I also want to get your input on what YOU want to see in future - as I want this to become a genuinely insightful and entertaining space where we can have fun chats in the comments, where I can get to know my readers a bit better and where you can have a direct say on what you’d like to see more of.
There’s a poll at the end of this update that you can use to let me know what you want to see.
First up:
My Substack will always be FREE to subscribe to - this will never change.
There is a PAID tier for £3.50 a month that gets you access to comic writing tutorials, Kickstarter how-to guides, and more exclusives. You can see everything you get for your bucks here.
I just posted my paid tier first writing tutorial, which is about how to write effective panel descriptions in your comic script. You can check out a free preview here to see if it’s your kind of thing.
I’m going to do free and paid posts EVERY FRIDAY at first. I don’t want to push subscribers away if this is too often. My inbox is always open, so if you feel like once a week is too much, I’ll look to reduce how often I post.
Okay, on with the first post!
1. Killtopia #5 production update
If you’re new to Killtopia, it’s my main comic series with artist Clark Bint, colourist Lou Ashworth, and letterer Micah Myers, published by Scottish publisher, BHP Comics - you can check out and buy issues #1-4 on their store here
It’s a cyberpunk comic set in Neo Tokyo, which has been overrun by robots known as ‘Mechs’ that are terraforming the city and poisoning all of humanity as a result, with an incurable disease known as ‘The Rot.’
Rather than fix the problem, the Japanese government creates a new bloodsport called ‘Killtopia’ that invites killers, bounty hunters and soldiers of fortune from across the world to Japan, so they can earn limitless money, fame and social influence by slaughtering the Mechs. These hunters are called ‘Wreckers’ (and most of them are total egotistical, crazed dickheads)
The story focuses on a rookie Wrecker called Shinji Kamiya (whose name is a mash up of my two favourite Japanese game directors - Shinji Mikami and Hideki Kamiya!) He sneaks into Killtopia without a license or corporate sponsors illegally, so he can earn money to pay for Rot treatment for his dying sister, Omi. While in the Killtopia hunting grounds, he runs into the first sentient Mech called ‘Crash’ who has the secret to curing The Rot inside his code.
The two form a bond and set out to heal the planet. The only problem is, every Wrecker, Yakuza gang and assassin in Neo Tokyo wants to collect the massive bounty on Crash’s head - triggering a wide scale war across the city that erupts in unexpected ways.
Killtopia #1 art by Craig Paton
Phew! That’s the backstory!
Last year, many of our subscribers (thanks again if any of you are reading this!) helped us raise over £25,000 on Kickstarter to make the fifth and final issue of the series a reality.
We’re well over halfway done with Killtopia #5’s art production now. Both Clark and Lou have been seriously smashing this issue, and I’m constantly amazed at how they just keep getting better with each book (and they were incredible to begin with, too!)
I’m going to start shipping the book to backers in June and into the start of July, and I’ll be keeping everyone well updated on here and through Kickstarter updates once we get closer to launch.
For now though, here are a few panel teasers - including a few never before seen ones! - for you to check out. Please give Clark and Lou some kudos in the comments if you like what you see, they always appreciate the feedback.
Enjoy!
Doll attack!
Shinji outruns an attack drone!
A Wrecker runs into some BIG trouble…
Preparing for war!
2. Subscriber poll - what would you like to see?
I genuinely want my free Substack to be a fun place where we can chat, discuss comics and games, and for it to be a useful and entertaining place for you to check out from time to time.
I’ve put together a quick poll of the sort of things I used to post on the old Mailchimp newsletter - to see if you’d like to see them return.
But if there’s something there you don’t see, you can hit the button to leave a comment below with suggestions - I’ll read and consider them all:
Here’s the first poll - you can only vote once, so if you want to see more than one thing return (or if something’s not on the list) please hit the button above and post a comment about it.
And here’s the second poll, about how often the newsletters go out:
3. Final thoughts + short updates
Art by Steve Gregson, Colours by Lou Ashworth
BPM: Beatdowns Per Minute #2 production: a massive apologies to all our backers for the delays on getting this one made. Both Steve and I have had to push it back a few times due to personal things, health things, work-related things and more - BUT - production has started again TODAY! Stay tuned for new art teasers in future updates and again, we’re sorry for the delay. This is a first-hand look at the joys of being an indie team :’)
Run ‘n’ Gun History Book update: I’m hard at work on my second video game history book for an unannounced publisher, which is a 450+ page hardback guide to the entire genre, from Gun Fight in 1979, through ‘80s and ‘90s with heavyweights like Contra, Ikari Warriors, Metal Slug and Gunstar Heroes, and into the modern era with Cuphead, Blazing Chrome, Enter the Gungeon and many more. My first draft is two weeks from being finished, so expect a reveal in the near future!